A desperate Delhi, having lost the last two matches and looking for full points in their match against Maharashtra to stay afloat, had requested the Indian team to release Parvinder Awana.

A desperate Delhi, having lost the last two matches and looking for full points in their match against Maharashtra to stay afloat, had requested the Indian team to release Parvinder Awana. Delhi are on 11 points and are languishing at fifth position ahead of the last two games.

"We have requested the Board to release Awana but we haven't got any information. It is unlikely we'll get him," said Delhi's chief selector Chetan Chauhan.

Seam friendlyThe venue for this game is Roshanara Club grounds, withknown to be a haven for pacemen unlike the Ferozeshah Kotla, where the track didn't help the seamers.

The Kotla has been closed for everything ahead of the India's one-dayer against Pakistan on January 6.

Delhi may play Under-25 paceman Vikas Tokas, who impressed at the pre-season nets by troubling Virender Sehwag. Former India speedster Ashish Nehra, after a disappointing show in the last match at Bangalore has been left out of the side. Nehra had been facing fitness problems this season.

"We don't have an option and we have asked for green top as we need minimum six points from this match in order to stay afloat for a berth in the knock-out stages," chief coach Vijay Dahiya said on the eve of the match.

If Tokas gets the nod then, Delhi will be going in with an four-pronged pace attack - Sumit Narwal, Pradeep Sangwan and Pawan Suyal will be the other seamers. Rajat Bhatia will be the fifth seamer. Delhi's tactic may just work as Maharashtra have played their home games on flat tracks.